Tuesday, 26 February 2008

The Sun newspaper has recently carried out a telephone survey on whether ‘Joe Public’ wants the death penalty (hanging) reintroduced to England. Over 100,000 votes were registered, of which 99% voted to bring back hanging. Such is the disgust at our justice and sentencing system!

The trouble with the justice system in this country is that the sentencing for serious crime is an absolute joke! The public are incensed when ‘murderers’ are given a life sentence and we know that it doesn’t mean ‘Life’, but probably a maximum of 20 years. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime.

Probably one of the most publicised murder cases, ‘The Moors Murders’, in our history made the news frequently for years because whilst the two people convicted of the murders, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, were given multiple life sentences, Myra Hindley was always reported as being considered for parole. All the time she was in prison Hindley duped public figures like Lord Longford into campaigning for her release. This, for the families of the children they murdered was intolerable. Anne West, the mother of Lesley Ann Downey (one of the Moors Murder victims), fought a long battle with cancer but vowed she would live to see Myra Hindley die in prison or, if she was ever released, she would kill her. Ann eventually gave into the cancer in 1999, three years before Hindley died in prison in November 2002. Winnie Johnson the mother of Keith Bennett, another of Hindley & Brady’s victims, is still writing to Brady 40+ years on, because her son’s body has never been found. Brady, at least, has always maintained that he never wanted to be released and is still serving his sentence in Ashworth (Mental) Hospital, he has been on hunger strike since 1999. He is reported to have said he will tell the authorities where Keith is buried if they will allow him to die. The Death Penalty had been abolished in England just five months before Hindley and Brady were convicted, otherwise they would have hung.

James Bulger’s mother has to live every day knowing that the two people responsible for taking the life of her two year old son, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, were released on life licence in 2001 after serving only eight years. Originally the boys were given a ten year sentence each, but in 1995 the Home Secretary, Michael Howard, announced that they would serve 15 years, only to be told by the Court of Appeal that his decision to set a 15-year tariff was unlawful, and the Home Secretary lost his power to set minimum terms for life-sentence prisoners under the age of 18 years. The High Court and European Court of Human Rights have since ruled that politicians can no longer decide how long a life sentence prisoner can remain behind bars. Thompson and Venables have been given new identities and live in a secret location. James Bulger would have been ten years old at the time of their release – the age they were when they tortured and murdered him!

The sentencing of Adam Swellings 19, Stephen Sorton 17 and Jordan Cunliffe 16, who kicked to death 47 year old Garry Newlove outside his home in August last year in front of his 12 year old daughter, has outraged the public. Swellings was released on bail, after he committed an assault, on the day he helped murder Garry Newlove. Swellings was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years, Sorton 15 years and Cunliffe 12 years. How can a sentence of even 17 years compensate for the life of a man, who in 17 years time would have been 64, be only a year off normal retirement age, and looking forward to a life of leisure after working hard all his life?

Where is the justice????

As this Government are reluctant to bring back the Death Penalty to this country, they should be reviewing the sentencing guidelines and change them, so that a Life Sentence means spending the rest of your natural life in prison, with NO chance of release. A Life Sentence should be imposed for the murder of children, murder committed by feral gangs, premeditated murder and fors serial murders. The Court of Human Rights should get its priorities in order, by considering the rights of the victims and not the scum of this earth, who think that taking someone’s life is much like saying “pass the salt” and has little or no consequences apart from a few years in jail and a brand new life to look forward to. The people who commit these crimes are not human and therefore are not entitled to human rights!

Oh and don't get me started on the meagre sentences meted out to Paedophiles, that's yet another post!

Twelve months ago today I had a total knee replacement! If you want all the gory details you can read them here.

It was painful, and was never easy, but I did my exercises religiously, and four weeks later I had my first outing. You can see before and after photos here. I got out and about a bit more after that then, after six weeks, I went back to see my surgeon who gave me the green light to be more adventurous on with my knee.

In April we went to a birthday party and I had my first danceon my new knee. By June I was walking the length of Southport Pier which is 1,112m long. Admittedly I was using one crutch but I wasn't really leaning on it!

On 7th July I finally got rid of my crutch and we went abroadon holiday then finally at the beginning of September I went back to work. Since then my knee has gone from strength to strength and I am so glad I had the operation. The life expectancy of me knee is approx 15 - 20 years, then I may need a new one but I'm not even thinking about that, I'm too busy doing all the things I haven't been able to do for such a long time.

To anyone who has been told they need a knee replacement my advice would be 'go for it' it will change your life!

The rules are:1. Link back to the person who tagged you. Check, see above.2. Post the rules on your blog. Check, see here.3. Share six unimportant things about yourself. Errm I'll try.4. Tag six random people at the end of your blog entry. I'll have to do it by sticking a pin in my blogroll.5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs. No probs.

This is easier than thinking of important things about oneself, which could be construed as being up one's own A***e!

1. I wear glasses for reading.2. I used to bite my nails - I know YUK!3. I love reading. I mainly read blogs now but I have been known to read the labels on jars when I don't have a book to hand.4. I can't resist buying shoes. Move over Imelda.5. Did I say I wear glasses?6. I love shoes. Have I already told you that?

It was harder than I thought. I was going to say I tag the first 6 people to comment but if you read this, you won't comment will you???? So if you want to do it go ahead.

I stole borrowed this from Mimi (Mimi Writes) 'cause it sounded like fun. Now I'm not so sure, but I'll do it anyway

PAST First grade teacher's name: Mrs McManusTidbit from my secret journal: The only journal I have is this blog.Last word you said: Blog.Last song you sang: The Living Years - the first song on my playlist on my blog.Last song stuck in your head: The Living Years.

PRESENTWhat's in your CD player: Leona Lewis' new album.What color socks are you wearing: I don't wear socks.What's under your bed: Nothing, not even fluff.What's the weather like: DampWhat time did you wake up today: 10 a.m.

FUTUREWho do you want to marry: I'm already married to the My Wonderful Man.Are you going to college: At my age?Where do you want to go: Somewhere hot and sunny.What is your career going to be: RetirementWhere are you going to live: Somewhere hot and sunny (if I win the lottery)How many kids do you want: I've already got two and it would be a miracle if I had any moreKids' names: No 1 and No2 son.Where do you want your honeymoon: We didn't get a honeymoon but boy have we made up for it since.What kind of car will you have: I'd love a Rolls Royce but unless I win the lottery it's highly unlikely that I'll get one.

Feel free to have a go if you like and let me know so I can visit and read your answers.

and tagged me for it. Now when Mimi tags you with a Meme - you do it - unless you want to end up in the dungeon. However, I would have pinched it had Mimi not tagged me because it's a fun thing to do, the tag not the pinching.

Here's the rules:1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle.

2. Right click and SAVE the blank graphic below

3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture

4. Post the Message In a Bottle meme and your creation on your blog along with these rules

5. Tag a minimum of 5 bloggers - or your entire blogroll - to do the same. Notify them of the tag.

I can't do the Mr. Linky thingie so head over to this post at Mimi's and enter your name in the Mr. Linky so others can visit you to see your message in a bottle. Also email Mimi with your message in a bottle so she can put them altogether like she does with the Peace Globes.

Here's mine:

Now I tag all of you (if you want to do it).

Please let me know when you've posted so I can come take a look.

Please will at least 5 of you do it, otherwise Mimi will put me in the dungeon! Pretty Please. xx

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

MWM thinks he does, but not if I get there first!

Actually we tend to have the same taste in television programmes so what to watch is not usually a problem. The problem I have is which remote is which! We have four, one each for the DVD, TV, Sound System and the Sky box. The only one I really know how to use is the one for the TV, the rest are a mystery to me. MWM has shown me numerous times how to record on sky, to play CDs etc., but I can never remember how to do it. I suppose I’m just not interested, he’s there to do it and he enjoys being in charge.

It’s not that I’m not a technophobe, if there’s anything I want to do on my blog I’ll find out how and I do it. MWM is amazed at some of the stuff I’ve done, but because he doesn’t need to do it he thinks it’s difficult, and because I’m not that interested in recording programmes on the TV, I think that’s difficult.

Being ancient, I can remember a time when you just had an on/off button and a volume control on your telly, and the only battle you had was “who’s turn is it?” to get up, cross the room and switch channels. Nothing had a remote control – imagine that! Hell we didn’t get coloured television until 1972!

How would today’s youth cope without remotes? Even my youngest grandson (not yet 2) knows exactly what a remote is for!

Ode to the Remote

BBC1,2,3,ITV or SKYCookery, fashion or the soaps?Pass me that remote.

Press a button,Make a choice,Flicking back and forth.No, not that, I’ve seen that one,We’d better have a vote.

Give it here,The football’s on…..Not while I’m in charge!We’ll watch a docusoap tonight.No way, José, I’m going for a pint!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some time ago Pauline at Cursuum Perfido was disgruntled that she was restricted to passing on the Rockin'Girl Blogger to girlies, so she altered the badge to read Honorary Rockin' Girl Blogger Award so chappies can now become honorary girlies. How cool is that?

I thought it was a brilliant idea, because I felt exactly the same way when I received the award - I wanted to nominate some guys who I think Rock. However, I'd put the awards on the shelf and totally forgot about them, until now.

So, now I have the chance, I hope you guys will accept the award in the spirit in which it is given and display it proudly, you don't have to have a dress, matching shoes and handbag to collect the award, just choose which colour award you like.

The Rules are:

This award can be made by 'Rockin' Girl Bloggers' only

Nominate 3 (not 5 because it takes a really special Boy to be an Honorary Girl).

If that's you and you would like to give a worthy Boy Blogger this award, feel free! Just copy these rules onto your post and the following acknowledgement.

Acknowledgement to the creator of the Rocking Girl Blogger award Roberta Ferguson, great idea Roberta!

So here are my three nominees, guys who's blogs I've admired for a while.

In no particular order:

Ron (Vent) - I call Ron's blog 'the sunshine blog' because although it's called Vent (and he does sometimes) it is such a sunny place I always feel cheered after visiting.

Buffalodickdy (Opinions and Rectums We All Got One) - This Rockin' Blogger is a fabulous cook and shares some amazing recipes. If I lived near him I'd invite myself to dinner!

Dumdad (The Other Side Of Paris) - An amazing wordsmith. His tales of living in Paris and his years as a journalist on Fleet Street (London) are so entertaining.

I hope you will all go visit these three Honarary Rockin' Girl Bloggers (if you don't already).

1st woman: It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, began to get warm & sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What about you?

2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.

1st woman: So, what happened?

2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died.

1st woman: Too bad you didn't look in the freezer---we'd both still be alive

Thursday, 14 February 2008

How deep is my love for you?Deeper than the deepest ocean,Deeper than the sky,Deeper than the deepest sunset ,Yet still you ask me why?

Why and how I love you, is plain for all to seeNo-one has a deeper love, for you my dear, than me.It comes from deep within my soul.My love, my life, please knowThat loving you is the one thingThat truly makes me whole.

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

As most of you will know MWM and I spent last weekend with Queenieand Math. For those of you who don't know we have been friends for 18 years, I wrote this postrecently about how and when we met. We meet up regularly, though this has been curtailed the past 18 months what with my knee operation and Queenie's hip operation in the pipeline.

We (read MWM) drove the 70 miles on Friday afternoon and were greeted by Queenie and Math with a Champagne Reception. MWM and Math disappeared to the pub (as usual) leaving two excited ladies talking for England and quaffing white wine. When the boys returned from the pub we were still talking, no way do we run out of conversation, and dinner was underway. Queenie is a fabulous cook here's what she treated us to:

Smoked mackerel pâté trimmed with Norwegian salmon and served with warmed sliced baguettes……………..Venison steaks presented on a bed of root mash accompanied by red cabbage and beetroot with buttered French beans. Served with a succulent redcurrant and red onion sauce au jus.………………Hand picked Moroccan strawberries, dipped in rich dark chocolate, served with a cheeky saucy pot au chocolat.......................Liqueurs and coffee with selected after dinner mints……………….Brandy and Port

It was as delicious as it sounds - take my word for it.

The boys (eventually) prised us apart and insisted it was time to call it a day, it was late (very late) when we went to bed. Our first night together is always that way. Even though we speak all the time on the phone we just have so much to talk about when we meet up. Queenie and I spent the following day chilling (read recovering) whilst the boys went out for a walk.

Nat (Queenie & Math's son) arranged to meet us at one of the restaurants (Red Hot World Buffet) he's designed on Saturday evening, where we were treated like royalty - Nat introduced us as his Aunt and Uncle - we're not really, as Peter Kay says "His Dad borrowed a screwdriver once!" The food and the atmosphere are fantastic and he's done a wonderful job on the decor. It was a long drive so by the time we got back it was gone 11 p.m. and we were all shattered, mainly from the night before, so we sat down with a cup of tea and started watching Sweeney Todd. By midnight we were ready for bed and thankfully Queenie was the first to admit it - giving us green light to retire for the night.

On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast and by midday were were on our way over to meet Nat at his penthouse, where he has panaoramic views over the River Trent. I've put together a little slide show for you.

After a tour of the penthouse we popped across the road for a glass of wine then set off back to have Sunday lunch at a local hostelry. We had a lovely leisurely lunch (with wine) and got back home about 5 p.m. (just in time for me to watch Dancing on Ice!) Then guess what? It was time to go out again! This excursion was just to the pub up the road for Quiz night - we love quizzes! Just take a look at the photo below

WE WON! We only got one question wrong, a picture question which we had to admit we hadn't got a clue, but we weren't convinced they quizmaster had the right answer anyway! Our prize was a (very) little trophy and a round of drinks and we were thrilled, though the other locals were a bit peeved!

Victorious we returned home to stuff ourselves with a lovely selection of cheese and biscuits and yet more wine- you will have realised by now that we like wine! Once again Queenie and I had to be prised apart (at 4 a.m.) when the boys insisted it was definitely time for bed.

Then, before we knew it Monday arrived and it was time to take our leave, but not until Math had produced scrambled eggs and smoked salmon for our breakfast. We were all 'cream crackered' but we'd had a fantastic weekend (as always) and it was all over - well until next time!

Queenie battled through our weekend, in pain most of the time, but determined to enjoy every single minute - and we did! She'd had some really good news on Friday but I'll leave that for her to tell you. We're hoping that sometime this year we will do what we haven't been able to do for a long time - go out for a boogie - that's our ultimate aim and knowing Queenie if it's at all possible she will do it!

Monday, 11 February 2008

It's my first blogversary TODAY, and if you'd have asked me twelve months ago if I'd have done 285 posts , had 40,059 visitors, been given 53 awards and be getting an average of 30 comments per post - I would have say no way!

I started blogging because I knew I was going into hospital to have a knee replacement, and I wanted to document my progress after the operation, which I did. If you want to read the gory details they're all there in the archives.

Of course my blog has become much more than that to me because of all the wonderful people it has enabled me to meet.

So my dear blogging friends have a piece of my Blogversary cake and thanks for visiting me. xx

Wednesday, 6 February 2008

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

Here's my answer:

Yes thankyou!

I get plenty of leisure time because I am in the fortunate position of having a husband who is retired, and is so wonderful he does all the cleaning, shopping, washing, ironing and gardening. Until he retired I used to do all these things. I’m not completely lazy, I still do the cooking – because I like it.

Our children are married, so we only have ourselves to please. I work in a school, this means that I have 13 weeks holiday every year – you’re jealous now aren’t you? So that’s 13 weeks every year to do exactly as we please, be it a trip out, a holiday abroad, a shopping trip or just sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine (when we get some).

Of course all this leisure time means I have more time to blog which is great. I was torn last year during the summer – sit in the office blogging or sit in the sunshine? Mmmmm dilemma. Anyway it won’t be a problem this summer, because we now have a laptop, so I can have the best of both worlds.

Monday, 4 February 2008

Do you doodle? Come on, no smart alec/rude answers please, you all know what doodling means.

I only doodle when I’m on the telephone, waiting for a call to be answered. I usually have a name or some notes written down about the call and I tend to enclose the names in boxes then put perspective on them, I also do repeated lines, patterns and geometric shapes, which according to a site I found which analyses doodles, means:

Doodles of Boxes and Perspective Forms: Perspective drawing is quite an advanced stage in artistic development, and is a very satisfying creative outlet – simple 3-D boxes often hark back to our last experience of artistic training (technical drawing in highschool).

Internal: 3-D boxes indicate an ordered mind and love of routine. Often drawn by people with a good sense of spatial relationships. A stack of balanced boxes might indicate great stress - especially if the stack is at risk of toppling!

Repeated Lines and Patterns: Repetition is a common feature of doodles that suggests a methodical, patient approach to tasks. Repetition also increases the significance of a particular motif.

Geometric Shapes: Regular patterns from geometric shapes tend to indicate an organised and efficient mind. Triangles are a geometrically stable shape but also suggest direction and sense of purpose. The triangle has been adopted into various symbol systems, for example, a pink (usually inverted) triangle represents gay pride.

The Circle: The circle appears in every culture as an archetypal form representative of the eternal whole. With no ending or beginning, it revolves in an eternal cycle and is linked to the sun-disk and the attendant concepts of the yearly cycle, the moon, and the wheel. In some symbol systems it also represents the universe.

The Square: The square represents the formal, mathematical, scientific order of the universe. The square represents earthbound matter, and correspondingly, with its two sides delineating a two-dimensional surface, may symbolize the earth or ground, or a field, especially in eastern pictograms. In Buddhist symbolism the relationship the square within the circle represents the relationship of the human and the divine.

So it would seem that I have an ordered, efficient mind and a love of routine – I’d agree with that!

What do you doodle if anything? If you want to look up what your doodles mean see

Thank you Barb, I'll do my best to spread the love. She didn't mention any rules about passing it on but she passed it on to three bloggers so I'll do the same. Will the first three to comment on this post please take the "Spread the Love Award" and pass it on.

Flowerpot is a writer and landlady who keeps me entertained with her tales of tenants, life in the south and her fantastic writing. Go check her out - you won't be sorry. Please take the award your blog is excellent!

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"One's life is never in vain, no matter how short, if people remember you." Akelamalu 2009

"A person only has to prove what they believe if they are trying to convince someone else that it's true. I don't bother trying to prove anything because what others believe doesn't matter to me." Akelamalu 2010

Welcome to my home from home......

Take your shoes off and stay a while. Please leave a comment - I love comments and I promise to return the favour.

Who I am

I'm a Scorpio female, married with two sons, four grandsons and one granddaughter. Akelamalu is my Hawaian name, not that I'm Hawaian you understand I just like the name.
As my header says "I may tell you everything. I may tell you nothing" - depending on the mood I'm in.
I also practice Reiki, if you want to know more about this please see my favourite posts.
I have a webpage where I have published my Grandmother's biography, which was written by my father when he was 72. You can read it or buy a hard back copy - just click on the links above the photograph of KIT.
All photographs on this blog are copyrighted 2007 and must not be used without express permission from me.

DAN'S FI-VER (MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS) - My son's blog

MY WEBSITE - KIT - A BIOGRAPHY OF MY GRANDMOTHER

Kit - Book Reviews

Stephen

This was a fantastic read. My mother is a niece of Joe and so Kit was my Great Grandmother, and so relating to some of the characters was fantastic. Thanks for a moving tribute to our Great Grandmother.

Lorraine

How lovely and a wonderful tribute. Your father must be so proud and I think it is incredible he took the time to sit and write this out. I am so happy for him that this has seen the light of day and we are all able to read his words. Say a big thank you to him from me please.

Fancita

This has been the most moving story I have read in a long time. I will read this over and over again. Such a wonderful give you have given.

Jackie

I loved Kit's story! My family are from the same area, so much of it was very familiar to me. It is a wonderful heirloom!

Andrew

This biography is of my great grandmother. I am the youngest son of one of Joe's nieces and really enjoyed reading and learning lots about the family history. Thanks for the moving history lesson.

Mary

Beautiful.... spent the last few days reading this on and off. Once I started reading this I could not stop. Heartworming. Memories...

M.M.

Have done nothing else today but read your mother's story. Once I started I couldn't stop. She would be very proud. Thanks for a very fascinating and moving story!! I will be going to England for the first time later this month, but not around the Manchester area. It is a place I have always wanted to visit, not for the least of which is the resilience of it's people which your family's story certainly demonstrates. Thanks.

momo

its quite amazin becuse in scool we r learnin about riting a biography of 1 of our parents.i love it!!!!!

Robin

Loved it! Started and couldn't stop until the end. My only complaint is that I couldn't view any but the first photograph - would've loved to see more of Kit and her family. What a wonderful thing to do and what a treasure for Kit's family!

Karen

I have just finished reading KIT - A Biography of my Mother. What a wonderful, heartwarming story, I enjoyed each and every chaper. Hope it will be published as a book for all to read.

Lettuce

This is wonderful, Lamalu - i've got tears on my face too, lovely writing and what a great story and insight and memory - and everything that it is! i've just read the beginning, and will be back soon for more.Congrats, this really is marvellous!

Annelisa

I've read 'The Beginning'... the birth of Kit...and was engrossed! Although there was strife, and the catholics and protestants were not good bed-fellows, it is beautiful that your grandmother and grandfather came together, and in their affection for each other gave birth to little baby Kit... I will be back to read the next chapter soon... I would love to know more about this (your) family!

Dauna

I love the words that have flowed from your heart about your mother Kit. I feel like I know you and her through your words. I have tears in my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing it was beautiful. I will be sending people to read this and hope you publish in book form I would buy. Oh my what a great heart warming story of your mothers life, love ,struggles, wonderful children and victory. Kit lived!Many blessings to you,Angel

Thank you Ron.

AWARDS - To see who awarded what and when click on view all images.

The Reiki Precepts

Just for today I will not worry;
Just for today I will not get angry;
Just for today I will be thankful for my many blessings;
Just for today I will be honest in my dealings with people;
Just for today I will be kind to every living thing.